Man steals $30,000 from the CWA at the Royal Adelaide Show
A Country Women's Association branch has been left reeling after a man stole $30,000 at the Royal Adelaide Show.
Deputy state president Sharyn Muller said she was in the treasurer's hut at the Adelaide Showground at 8pm on September 6 when a man followed her in and demanded she fill a bag.
"I didn't know whether he had a weapon on him but I wasn't about to test it," Muller said.
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CWA deputy state president Sharyn Muller said she was transporting cash from the cafe to the treasurer's hut at about 8pm on September 6 when a man followed her in and demanded she fill a bag. 9News
"I just wanted him out of there and gone."
Muller said the man took off with the money, which was raised through the association's country cafe.
"It would probably be anywhere from half to three quarters of what we make in profit, clear profit," Muller said.
The incident left Muller traumatised.
"I raced out of the hut to see him going through a gap in the fence," she said.
"The back door to the cafe was open and I ran in and just collapsed on the floor."
Police have released a computer-generated image of the man, described as Caucasian and in his 40s.
Officers believe the man is about 165cm tall with grey or black facial hair.
The man has a distinctive horizontal scar above his left eyebrow and tattoos on his left forearm.
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Police have released a computer generated image of the man. 9News
He was wearing black jeans a black top with Led Zepplin on the front, and a green cap.
He was carrying a blue backpack, which officers said the money was placed into.
In previous years, the CWA has deposited the majority of its cash at an on-site BankSA pop-up branch.
However the branch did not return to the show this year.
BankSA said the move was due to falling consumer demand, with many attractions at the show now cashless.
Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Will Rayner said exhibitors were aware this would be the case.
"We were working with them to make sure they had procedures in place and we'll continue to do that," Rayner said.
Muller said while the CWA's money was insured, members were not covered "for the emotional side of it".
"That's what we're dealing with now," she said.
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